John Church

03/11/2001

Former General Electric engineer and hobbyist John Church, 77, of Lee Road died March 11 at home. Throughout his career at GE, Church was known to examine the clash between the electric power supply and the limits of the environment in the hopes of finding suitable alternative technologies. Yet despite the rigors of his work, the longtime Lenox resident still found time for such pursuits as silversmithing, canoeing, producing maple syrup each spring and beekeeping. His diverse activities, though far removed from electrical engineering, still seemed to hold scientific pleasure for Church. In 1972, for instance, Church told The Eagle that the wax combs in his bee hives "are elegant mathematical structures -- there's no wasted space in the perfect hexagonal arrangement, and it's a perfect interlocking system." Born in Washington, D.C., on March 10, 1924, son of Durant and Mildred Graves Church, he was a 1941 graduate of Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School. He received a bachelor of science degree in1948 from George Washington University, where he was a member of Kappa Alpha, and a master's degree in electrical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1953. He was an Army veteran of World War II, serving with an amphibious engineering unit from 1943 to 1946. His service continued with the Army Reserve through 1952. Mr. Church was employed by GE for 37 years, retiring in 1986. He worked in the power transformer division in Pittsfield following assignments at facilities in Philadelphia and Erie, Pa. He was manager of the Transformer Technology Program in Pittsfield and at the Corporate Research Center in Schenectady, N.Y. He was a member of the Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers and Pittsfield's Thursday Evening Club, and participated in many county civic and cultural activities. Constructed unique home He single-handedly built his home in Lenox in several stages. Its seven distinct floor levels accommodated the underlying rock ledge, inspiring the name "Sevels." His hobbies brought forth the bounty of the land, and, in various years, he harvested 120 pounds of honey, 120 dozen ears of corn, endless bouquets of zinnias and dahlias and gallons of maple syrup, all of which he shared. In recent years, he enjoyed sailing his Marshall 22 Catboat along the coasts of Newfoundland and Labrador, reaching as far north as Nain and Okak. He was a member of the Catboat Association and Hyannis Yacht Club, and sailed from the Wianno Yacht Club in Osterville. He and his family enjoyed many summers canoeing and sailing on Cape Cod. In 1949 he married the former Caroline Mason Norfleet of Bethesda, Md., and moved to Massachusetts. Besides his former wife, of Lenox, he leaves a son, Thomas Church of Menlo Park, Calif., and a grandson. He was predeceased by a daughter, Sarah Church, in 1992. Donations may be made in John Church's honor and memory to the Massachusetts Audubon Society, Lenox Library Association, Osterville Free Library, Recording for the Blind-Berkshire Unit, Berkshire Country Day School, Lilac Park, Berkshire County Historical Society or Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, or a preferred charity, and will be deeply appreciated. Memorial services will be announced at a later date. Arrangements are being handled by ROCHE FUNERAL HOME, Lenox. He is also survived by a daughter-in-law, Winnie Church, and a grandson, Nicholas Church, both of Menlo Park, Calif.

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